Multidisciplinary research in nanotechnology-based solutions, new functionalisation techniques, knowledge-based processes including bioprocesses, novel fibres and composites-based innovative products, biomedical sensors, microelectronics, mobile communication and telemedicine has led to the development of new textile products and markets characterised by high added-value and growth potential. Tensile structures, textiles for the retrofitting of masonry structures and earthworks, textiles for permanent architectural structures, medical textiles for disease prevention, wound healing, artificial medical ligaments, textile prostheses, and textiles for safety and performance represent a growth area for the textile industry, offering enormous scope for innovation and a wide range of potential applications.
Intelligent biomedical clothes are a key element in the prevention and early detection of diseases. Smart fabrics with embedded sensors can monitor different aspects of the human body. Clothes made of such fabrics provide user-friendly ways of monitoring patients over extensive periods of time, thus reducing the need for doctors' appointments and hospital visits. The data collected by the wearable sensors is transmitted electronically to telemedicine centres via fixed or wireless communication networks. When the data indicates a need for concern, alarms or warnings are generated by the electronic systems. The process saves time and increases patient-doctor interaction. Intelligent biomedical clothes could benefit a wide range of people:
People who just want to stay fit and healthy;
Healthy people who know they are at risk of developing specific illnesses but want to remain healthy;
Chronically ill patients by helping them manage their condition effectively; and
Vulnerable people, such as the elderly, by enabling them to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, outside traditional care institutions.
The European Commission has supported the development of intelligent biomedical clothes throughout the Fifth and Sixth Framework Programmes. For instance, under FP6, รข‚¬64 million was devoted to textiles projects, 30% of which was targeted at clothing. A number of prototype systems, such as the garments developed in the WEALTHY and MYHEART projects are a direct result of this spending. The forthcoming Seventh Framework Programme provides for more support for research in this field in order to further develop the potential of intelligent fabrics. A couple of examples of this are the "Application of New Materials including Bio-based Fibres in High-Added Value Textile Products" objective, which is being developed under the NMP Programme (on Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies) and the "Personal Health Systems for Monitoring and Point-of-Care diagnostics" project, which comes under the umbrella of the Information and Communication Technology Programme.
Lucy, a 29 year-old engineer, runs regularly, eats sensibly and generally takes care of herself. For the past month, Lucy has been experiencing heart palpitations so she goes to her GP for a complete check up. Despite her youth and healthy lifestyle, Lucy's test results indicate that she is at relatively high risk of having a heart attack. Lucy is keen to maintain her lifestyle so she has a discussion with her doctor about how best to manage her health problem. Her doctor is as keen as Lucy is that her heart should continue to benefit from regular sport so he suggests that she wears intelligent clothing to monitor her heart while she runs.
Tiny sensors integrated into her clothing monitor Lucy's heart rate and send out a signal if she needs to slow down. This simple device enables Lucy to continue to run, safe in the knowledge that she is not putting herself at risk. The world of fashion is set to be taken by storm by intelligent clothing that works as you wear!
Examples of FP6 research projects on intelligent clothing:
FLEXIFUNBAR addresses research issues on emerging technologies for the production of new flexible structures (paper, leather and technical textiles for applications in transport, medicine, security and clothing). The project's various activities simultaneously focus on integrated areas of research and scaling up (nanostructures, materials research for barrier effects, new production processes);
DIGITEX has the clear strategic objective of achieving a completely new industrial process for the coating of textiles based on digital printing technologies, and in particular textiles for safety performance and industrial workwear in services and industry. The technology used involves the Integration of nanoparticles in fluids to be jetted onto textiles (Digital jetting technique) giving rise to anti-flame, anti-chemical, and bacteria-proof functionalities;
INTELTEX is expected to have a high potential impact for the smart textile sector by developing novel, sensitive and functional Conductive Polymer Composite-based textiles for construction, medical and protective clothing applications. They could be used in medical wear for monitoring body temperature and protective clothing such as that used by firemen;
LEAPFROG aims at the modernisation and ultimate transformation of the entire textile industry. It is the outcome of a long process conducted by EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Organisation. The project addresses virtual prototyping where advanced simulation tools enable designers to virtually prototype a garment collection in terms of style, size and functionality;
MYHEART develops intelligent systems for the prevention and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases. The project develops smart electronic and textile systems and appropriate services that empower the users to take control of their own health status.
Source : Europe Direct Newsletter
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tomorrow's clothes will be intelligent
Tomorrow, your clothing will detect if your body temperature is giving signs that you are getting sick, and make contact with the doctor for you. Your suitcase will let you know what clothes it contains. In the field of "i-wear", literally intelligent clothing, everything is possible. A variety of innovative products are already available on the market today, such as stockings that hydrate and energize the leg, stain-proof ties, antibacterial socks, UV-resistant swimwear… But certain advanced research centres are bringing together partners from the worlds of computing, telecommunications, electronics, chemistry, textiles and fashion to imagine the clothing of the future, that will be both intelligent and communicative. At the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), researchers are working on developing smart clothes that keep their wearer in permanent contact with the world via all the media imaginable. Students will particularly like the glasses with a built-in screen and Internet access. With these glasses on, it's impossible to get lost: wherever you are, you can always connect to a navigation aide that will show a local map and directions! This kind of clothing will allow us to be totally interconnected. With the development of speech recognition and intelligent agents, clothes will become more and more like personal assistants. The clothing of the future will be like an interactive second skin combining various resources (energy source, memory, communication tools) and acting as the interface between an individual and their environment. Eventually, it could become a "symbiotic extension" of the human being. AgentLand brings you a vision of the future made of wool, fibres and microprocessors.
by : agentland.com
by : agentland.com
The future of washing clothes according to Electrolux Design Lab 2007
A Hungarian design student called Levente Szabo - apparently, his surname means "tailor", appropriately - has won the Electrolux Design Lab 2007 competition with this concept washing machine that uses "soap nuts". The E-wash was a response to the brief to design a product that's both environmentally sound and commercially viable.
Taking his inspiration from India and Nepal where soap nuts - a.k.a. sapindus mucorussi - have been used successfully for centuries, Szabo designed the E-Wash to reduce the pollution of the washing process and packaging and transportation of detergents. The alternative soap would be great for people with allergies and a kilogram of the nuts would last the average person a whole year. The machine itself was also reduced in size and flattened so that it would fit into a small flat and yet take a large load of clothes.
by : Electrolux Design Lab
Taking his inspiration from India and Nepal where soap nuts - a.k.a. sapindus mucorussi - have been used successfully for centuries, Szabo designed the E-Wash to reduce the pollution of the washing process and packaging and transportation of detergents. The alternative soap would be great for people with allergies and a kilogram of the nuts would last the average person a whole year. The machine itself was also reduced in size and flattened so that it would fit into a small flat and yet take a large load of clothes.
by : Electrolux Design Lab
New Residential Clothes Washer Energy-Efficiency Standard
In January 2001, the U.S. Department of Energy promulgated a new minimum efficiency standard for residential clothes washers. The new mandated efficiency levels will become effective in two stages: in the years 2004 and 2007. In 2004, the standard will mandate an energy reduction of 22% and in 2007, 35%, as compared to the current minimum efficiency standards in effect since 1994. Manufacturers may achieve these reductions in laundry energy use by selecting any design options they like. Many manufacturers are introducing new energy-efficient washers that meet future minimum efficiency requirements even before the required date. These energy savings are being met by modified vertical axis or top-loading designs with a spray wash, as well as by front-loading, horizontal axis washers, sometime referred to as tumble washers.
The new metric for clothes washer efficiency, the Modified Energy Factor, MEF, is expressed as cubic feet of basket capacity divided by energy use, in kilowatt-hours per cycle. MEF includes the energy to heat the water for the clothes washer, as well as the motor energy and a calculated dryer energy.
Most of the energy used in a typical clothes washer is used to heat the water. Therefore, efficiencies are primarily being met by reducing hot water consumption. When hot water energy is reduced, total water use is often reduced as well. Other methods to increase efficiency are to use auto-fill features, better temperature control, and faster spin speeds. The latter spins out more water in the washer so the dryer needs less energy to complete the drying. Data collected from manufacturers show that, on average, they expect to reduce the washer energy by approximately 68%, and the dryer energy by 11%, to achieve an overall laundry energy reduction of 35%.
EETD role
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, mandates that the Department of Energy establish minimum efficiency standards for clothes washers. Researchers in EETD's Appliance Standards Group provide the analysis for the DOE to determine the highest energy-efficiency standard that is technologically feasible and economically justified. EETD's work includes analyzing the impact of technological options on consumers, manufacturers, and the nation as a whole.
This analysis includes several methodology improvements including using distributions for the variables needed in the life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period analysis. In addition, a distribution of marginal electricity prices was used instead of the usual national average price. The marginal price is the actual price a consumer would have paid for the increment of electricity saved. Using all of the input variables in a Monte Carlo analysis allowed the resulting LCC to be presented as a distribution. Rather than just an average change in LCC, we can now show the percentage of consumers that would benefit from a new efficiency standard and by how much.
In addition to looking at impacts on the consumer, impacts to the nation as a whole were also determined. Cumulative energy savings to the nation, forecasted to the year 2030, were estimated at 5.5 quadrillion BTUs (Quads). In addition, the standards are expected to save 11.6 trillion gallons of water through 2030. A cost-benefit analysis shows that on a national basis, the reduction in the operating costs of washers compliant with the standard outweighs the increase in the initial cost of the clothes washers. Analysis included a forecast of future shipments based on a decision tree model that accounted for price elasticities, operating cost elasticities, forecasted fuel prices, housing starts, increased sales of used washers, and other variables. The existing clothes washer stock was modeled using a retirement function that provided input into how many new washers would be purchased in future years. Detailed charts were created showing trends in future clothes washer shipments and national costs and benefits to the year 2030.
In addition to the consumer and national impacts described, researchers analyzed national emissions, employment, and alternatives to national standards.
—Peter Biermayer
The new metric for clothes washer efficiency, the Modified Energy Factor, MEF, is expressed as cubic feet of basket capacity divided by energy use, in kilowatt-hours per cycle. MEF includes the energy to heat the water for the clothes washer, as well as the motor energy and a calculated dryer energy.
Most of the energy used in a typical clothes washer is used to heat the water. Therefore, efficiencies are primarily being met by reducing hot water consumption. When hot water energy is reduced, total water use is often reduced as well. Other methods to increase efficiency are to use auto-fill features, better temperature control, and faster spin speeds. The latter spins out more water in the washer so the dryer needs less energy to complete the drying. Data collected from manufacturers show that, on average, they expect to reduce the washer energy by approximately 68%, and the dryer energy by 11%, to achieve an overall laundry energy reduction of 35%.
EETD role
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, mandates that the Department of Energy establish minimum efficiency standards for clothes washers. Researchers in EETD's Appliance Standards Group provide the analysis for the DOE to determine the highest energy-efficiency standard that is technologically feasible and economically justified. EETD's work includes analyzing the impact of technological options on consumers, manufacturers, and the nation as a whole.
This analysis includes several methodology improvements including using distributions for the variables needed in the life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period analysis. In addition, a distribution of marginal electricity prices was used instead of the usual national average price. The marginal price is the actual price a consumer would have paid for the increment of electricity saved. Using all of the input variables in a Monte Carlo analysis allowed the resulting LCC to be presented as a distribution. Rather than just an average change in LCC, we can now show the percentage of consumers that would benefit from a new efficiency standard and by how much.
In addition to looking at impacts on the consumer, impacts to the nation as a whole were also determined. Cumulative energy savings to the nation, forecasted to the year 2030, were estimated at 5.5 quadrillion BTUs (Quads). In addition, the standards are expected to save 11.6 trillion gallons of water through 2030. A cost-benefit analysis shows that on a national basis, the reduction in the operating costs of washers compliant with the standard outweighs the increase in the initial cost of the clothes washers. Analysis included a forecast of future shipments based on a decision tree model that accounted for price elasticities, operating cost elasticities, forecasted fuel prices, housing starts, increased sales of used washers, and other variables. The existing clothes washer stock was modeled using a retirement function that provided input into how many new washers would be purchased in future years. Detailed charts were created showing trends in future clothes washer shipments and national costs and benefits to the year 2030.
In addition to the consumer and national impacts described, researchers analyzed national emissions, employment, and alternatives to national standards.
—Peter Biermayer
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Fashions Of The Future
But we're not just talking about clothes made with cool fabrics that retain their shapes or better resist stains--what's known as "smart clothing." We're also talking about clothes with new technology incorporated into its design, aka "wearable technology." Many companies are already blending fashion and technology in a limited way: Burlington, Vt.-based snowboard maker Burton sells the Clone Mini Disc Jacket, which is a coat with a built-in Sony (nyse: SNE - news- people) mini disc player and a remote control sewn into the sleeve. And to help fashion-forward customers keep even cooler during the summer, Japanese company Kuuchoufuku makes jackets with built-in fans.
But the real high-tech designs of the future have yet to reach the stores. These will consist mainly of technologically enabled fabrics and garments that are only being sketched out in ateliers and research labs around the world.
According to Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst of Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD group, wearable technology still accounts for less than 1% of the U.S. fashion industry's retail sales. Although this sector is still in its infancy, the fashion industry as a whole is exhibiting solid growth. Last year, total U.S. apparel sales reached $181 billion, an almost 4% increase from 2004.
However, Cohen says wearable technology will eventually become a basic commodity, much like the blue jean. "Why buy a basic pair of khakis when future ones will be able to keep your legs warm with heating coils built into the lining? The future of technology in fiber and products is only a few years away."
As usual, expect to see wearable tech and smart clothing first adopted by fringe groups such as skiers and students before it catches on with the mainstream. NPD expects that skiwear and active-wear companies, such as Nike (nyse: NKE - news - people ), Columbia (nasdaq: COLM - news - people ), adidas and Timberland (nyse: TBL - news - people ), will be the most likely to drive development. Last year, adidas released adidas_1 footwear, a running shoe with an embedded microchip that monitors the terrain underfoot and accordingly adjusts the level of shock absorption provided by the shoe's heel.
Students at the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., believe young men with a keen interest in technology are more likely to embrace wearable technology trends than are women, who will prefer "computational-clothing," which does not sacrifice its aesthetic value for the sake of technology. In London, it is not just clothing that is becoming technical--designers are innovating with the way clothes are fitted. Bodymetrics, a London-based fashion-technology firm, and Serfontaine Jeans, have joined together to create the world's first pair of perfectly fitted jeans. Using a light scanner, Bodymetrics has created a pod to scan a client's body and record their exact body measurements.
Once in their underwear, the client stands in a pitch black chamber while a light flashes over their body for eight seconds. Their measurements are then recorded and a pair of "perfect-fit" jeans arrive in the mail within two weeks--for $530 a pop, or more than twice the price of a regular pair of Serfontaine jeans. But innovative clothing need not be so expensive. Students at MIT's Media Lab are also experimenting with affordable wearable tech. Using fabrics imbued with various metals, such as organza, copper, carbon and stainless steel, they have produced conductive clothing that is still soft to the touch. Amanda Parkes, an MIT student, has been studying how nitinol--an acronym for the Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory, a material that contains a nearly equal mixture of nickel and titanium--changes shape during fluctuations in temperature. With the application of a small amount of heat, a nitinol-based long-sleeve shirt can become short sleeved in seconds, while still being able to revert back to its original shape. Some ideas are even more radical. Suzanne Lee, a senior professor at St. Martin's School of Fashion in London and the author of Fashioning the Future, describes a " spray-on dress" made from a chemical formula that allows you to create a temporary dress from virtually nothing. The chemical is sprayed directly onto the skin to form a cloud of nonwoven cloth, which can be styled as desired. At the MIT Media Lab , students have also conjured up "epi-skin," a piece of jewelry made from epithelial skin cells that are cultured in the lab and grown in a test tube. Some of the concepts being explored, such as air-conditioned jackets and wrinkle-resistant sweaters, will probably be on the market before long. But others, such as hug shirts and airplane dresses, may never find a practical application, let alone see the light of day--no matter how cool they sound.
Now if we can get a pair of sneakers that give us a good workout without us having to move, we'd be set.
by : Mmoma Ejiofor
But the real high-tech designs of the future have yet to reach the stores. These will consist mainly of technologically enabled fabrics and garments that are only being sketched out in ateliers and research labs around the world.
According to Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst of Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD group, wearable technology still accounts for less than 1% of the U.S. fashion industry's retail sales. Although this sector is still in its infancy, the fashion industry as a whole is exhibiting solid growth. Last year, total U.S. apparel sales reached $181 billion, an almost 4% increase from 2004.
However, Cohen says wearable technology will eventually become a basic commodity, much like the blue jean. "Why buy a basic pair of khakis when future ones will be able to keep your legs warm with heating coils built into the lining? The future of technology in fiber and products is only a few years away."
As usual, expect to see wearable tech and smart clothing first adopted by fringe groups such as skiers and students before it catches on with the mainstream. NPD expects that skiwear and active-wear companies, such as Nike (nyse: NKE - news - people ), Columbia (nasdaq: COLM - news - people ), adidas and Timberland (nyse: TBL - news - people ), will be the most likely to drive development. Last year, adidas released adidas_1 footwear, a running shoe with an embedded microchip that monitors the terrain underfoot and accordingly adjusts the level of shock absorption provided by the shoe's heel.
Students at the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., believe young men with a keen interest in technology are more likely to embrace wearable technology trends than are women, who will prefer "computational-clothing," which does not sacrifice its aesthetic value for the sake of technology. In London, it is not just clothing that is becoming technical--designers are innovating with the way clothes are fitted. Bodymetrics, a London-based fashion-technology firm, and Serfontaine Jeans, have joined together to create the world's first pair of perfectly fitted jeans. Using a light scanner, Bodymetrics has created a pod to scan a client's body and record their exact body measurements.
Once in their underwear, the client stands in a pitch black chamber while a light flashes over their body for eight seconds. Their measurements are then recorded and a pair of "perfect-fit" jeans arrive in the mail within two weeks--for $530 a pop, or more than twice the price of a regular pair of Serfontaine jeans. But innovative clothing need not be so expensive. Students at MIT's Media Lab are also experimenting with affordable wearable tech. Using fabrics imbued with various metals, such as organza, copper, carbon and stainless steel, they have produced conductive clothing that is still soft to the touch. Amanda Parkes, an MIT student, has been studying how nitinol--an acronym for the Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory, a material that contains a nearly equal mixture of nickel and titanium--changes shape during fluctuations in temperature. With the application of a small amount of heat, a nitinol-based long-sleeve shirt can become short sleeved in seconds, while still being able to revert back to its original shape. Some ideas are even more radical. Suzanne Lee, a senior professor at St. Martin's School of Fashion in London and the author of Fashioning the Future, describes a " spray-on dress" made from a chemical formula that allows you to create a temporary dress from virtually nothing. The chemical is sprayed directly onto the skin to form a cloud of nonwoven cloth, which can be styled as desired. At the MIT Media Lab , students have also conjured up "epi-skin," a piece of jewelry made from epithelial skin cells that are cultured in the lab and grown in a test tube. Some of the concepts being explored, such as air-conditioned jackets and wrinkle-resistant sweaters, will probably be on the market before long. But others, such as hug shirts and airplane dresses, may never find a practical application, let alone see the light of day--no matter how cool they sound.
Now if we can get a pair of sneakers that give us a good workout without us having to move, we'd be set.
by : Mmoma Ejiofor
Thursday, January 17, 2008
new clothes
The future will involve any image on the front or back of the hoodie!
As well, clothes can be different colours and have different logos.
Hopefully, the future will involve sweatshirts with hidden hoods!
As well, clothes can be different colours and have different logos.
Hopefully, the future will involve sweatshirts with hidden hoods!
Posted by: Club Penguin Cheats
Friday, January 11, 2008
Clothes Of The Future
One can go back in time, clothes-wise, and find that women were the first to wear pants. (Yes, that means men were still wearing skirts). But, my curiosity more often goes to the future rather than back in time. I suppose that contributed to my disinterest in high-school history class – or was I just a normally flawed teenager? Anyway, I wonder what the future will hold clothes-wise. I hope there will still be clothes, and I assume that industry does also. Fashions cycle, and so are not much of an indicator. That is, unless they’re indicating that the cycles will continue forever. In America, clothes go out of style very fast. In other cultures, they’re still wearing the same style they did 4000 years ago. So, it’s conceivable that those cultures be wearing the same style 4000 years from now. But what will clothes be like in America 4000 years from now? The military (and skiers) have clothes which will keep their body temperature stable for long periods of time – until the clothes get dirty. Most of this fabric is known by the brand name Gortex. In a similar vein, some companies sew computer chips which are preset to a certain temperature into clothing. This keeps the clothing at a preset temperature. This fabric is popular for both outdoor wear, and for nursing blankets. I know this sounds futuristic, but it’s present-day stuff. This is something I think I would have thought of if somebody hadn’t thought of it before me. Perhaps I can win the Nobel Prize for Ideas with some of my thoughts for advances that I imagine will be made to clothing in the next 4000 years. That is provided nobody else hasn’t already thought of these: Firstly, I hope that all clothing will be made from environmentally safe materials and through environmentally safe methods. That will give those with MCS a much greater selection of places to purchase their clothing. Secondly, some sci-fi books would have us believe that clothes will be so efficient that they’ll recycle body fluids. I’m not for this, but it will probably be the case – at least in hospitals. Ok, not my idea, but perhaps I’ll get credit for mentioning it. Next, they’ll probably have built in propulsion packs – just like jet-man or James Bond, except you won’t have to wear an extra jet-pack, the clothes will contain a hidden one. This will be handy for getting around, so long as you don’t lose your shirt in the process. Fourth, the astronauts union will go on strike until somebody combines these last two advances, so that astronauts won’t have to wear bulky space suits in space. (Inside space ships (the shuttle) and in the space station, astronauts already wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts and have no need for space suits, until they venture outside.) This will also come in handy for those with MCS. Fifth, a modified version of the astronauts suit will be available for those living on the ocean floor, and for those on Venus – the water planet. Speaking of other planets, I suppose some of our styles will come from other planets. I can hear it now: “And now, walking down the aisle, our model is wearing a dress which was flown in all the way from the fashion planet Aurora Borealis, in the constellation Betelgeuse.”
Project revolutionizes future clothes
Hot spots and moisture lock may be features on clothing in the future.A group of four CMU faculty members are doing research with a study called "Exploration of Functional Design Issues that Interface with the Human Body." The team uses 350,000 points of data and a thermal camera to create a 3-D image of an individual in 12 seconds, said Maureen MacGillivray, professor of human environmental studies.The project, funded by the CMU: 2010 Vision Plan, aims to revolutionize clothing and sports wear."This allows the entire apparel design process to be digitized," MacGillivray said.The infrared thermal camera captures the heat emanating from the human torso, and the images can be mapped on the 3-D image, said Tanya Domina, associate professor of human environmental studies."This will allow for mass customizing for uniforms, work wear and outdoor wear," Domina said.Domina said the team is trying to profile the human torso so that the next-to-skin garments can better manage an individual's heat and moisture. It will help them better assist customers who use sporting wear, she said. MacGillivray said there are abound 400 individuals already in the database, but they are in desperate need of more male participants. They will offer walk-in scanning opportunities from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays until Dec. 10 in Room 115 of CMU's Engineering and Technology building, she said.The participants will get a 3-D image of themselves and a spreadsheet of more than 80 measurements, MacGillivray said.MacGillivray said the team used what they found in their research to work with Reebok and the NHL's new uniforms. They also designed new jerseys for the Atlanta Braves with their research information, she said.Domina said the information from the thermal scanner can show specific heat patterns and where there needs to be more moisture control or less of a seam. The seam actually retains a lot of heat, she said.The project was awarded the $350,000 grant from the 2010 Vision Plan last spring, but the project was launched three years ago, Domino said.The first year the researchers emphasized data collecting, but this year they are focusing on taking the data and analyzing it, said Patrick Kinnicutt, assistant professor of geology.Domina said for the final product they will create a thermal database that companies can pay to have access to. The customers really like the tools they walk away with, MacGillivray said.
By: Sarah Schuch
By: Sarah Schuch
Hot spots and moisture lock may be features on clothing in the future
A group of four CMU faculty members are doing research with a study called "Exploration of Functional Design Issues that Interface with the Human Body." The team uses 350,000 points of data and a thermal camera to create a 3-D image of an individual in 12 seconds, said Maureen MacGillivray, professor of human environmental studies.The project, funded by the CMU: 2010 Vision Plan, aims to revolutionize clothing and sports wear."This allows the entire apparel design process to be digitized," MacGillivray said.The infrared thermal camera captures the heat emanating from the human torso, and the images can be mapped on the 3-D image, said Tanya Domina, associate professor of human environmental studies."This will allow for mass customizing for uniforms, work wear and outdoor wear," Domina said.Domina said the team is trying to profile the human torso so that the next-to-skin garments can better manage an individual's heat and moisture. It will help them better assist customers who use sporting wear, she said. MacGillivray said there are abound 400 individuals already in the database, but they are in desperate need of more male participants. They will offer walk-in scanning opportunities from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays until Dec. 10 in Room 115 of CMU's Engineering and Technology building, she said.The participants will get a 3-D image of themselves and a spreadsheet of more than 80 measurements, MacGillivray said.MacGillivray said the team used what they found in their research to work with Reebok and the NHL's new uniforms. They also designed new jerseys for the Atlanta Braves with their research information, she said.Domina said the information from the thermal scanner can show specific heat patterns and where there needs to be more moisture control or less of a seam. The seam actually retains a lot of heat, she said.The project was awarded the $350,000 grant from the 2010 Vision Plan last spring, but the project was launched three years ago, Domino said.The first year the researchers emphasized data collecting, but this year they are focusing on taking the data and analyzing it, said Patrick Kinnicutt, assistant professor of geology.Domina said for the final product they will create a thermal database that companies can pay to have access to. The customers really like the tools they walk away with, MacGillivray said.
By: Sarah Schuch
By: Sarah Schuch
When smart clothes will be in fashion
Brown is the new grey that was the new black. Denim is out, no sorry, denim is in.
Predicting the fickle nature of fashion is difficult and largely based on the whims of couture designers in Paris or influences from films or popular music.
While designs will come and go, the biggest advances are likely to be made in the fabric itself. Dr Marcy Koontz assistant professor at the University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences predicts a future of "clever clothes". "New fabrics will take the lead, and fashion designers will embrace the decorative and functional potential of revolutionary materials. Fashion fabrics with integral anti-perspiring or scent-releasing features will become ordinary." she says.
Clothing designed around functionality has been around for a few years now: crumple free shirts that needs no ironing and teflon coated fabrics that resist greasy stains are a couple.
Scientists, not normally known for their fashion sense could be the leaders in tomorrow's fashion stakes. Right at the forefront of the textile industry intelligent clothing is being developed that revolutionises our perception of clothes.
Smart clothing, or I-Wear may not look radically different but incorporates an array of conducting strands interwoven with textile yarn which enable it to become sensory and provide information that assists the wearer.
The British based switching and sensing company Electrotextiles are behind a range of smart clothing called Elektex™ that includes a soft fabric keyboard sewn into a pair of trousers. If you're wondering what effect a rapid spin cycle would do to its components; the answers nothing - the trousers can be washed and even ironed. They are also planning a necktie that works like a computer mouse.
One of the first applications that uses the advanced Elektex™ fabric is an ergonomic seat developed for the Kion concept car at the Paris Motor Show 2000. The sensitive fabric monitors the movement of the occupants of the vehicle at their backs and legs and communicates with the seat's motors to adjust the seat for optimum comfort.
This technology has the potential to have a big impact on our daily lives from work, leisure and health. In work, phones could be integrated into the lapels of our jackets and the pockets could record meetings. In health and sport clothing could be produced that senses if the wearer becomes too cold and then warms their body with the aid of battery or stored solar power. It could also keep a check on the user's health with the aid of a heart monitor and if problems occur let a hospital know by transmitting information to the nearest hospital.
But these developments could be just a part of the overall scheme of making clothing as efficient and functional as possible.
The mail order business hasn't quite caught on as well as it could have for the simple fact, that unlike retail stores, consumers cannot try clothes on before they buy to see if they fit OK. This could soon all change.
To avoid the danger of buying clothes that are too big or too small a 3D Measuring System is being developed that scans precise measurements of the body and records them onto a disk. Consumers can then view a selection of clothes on the Internet and see how clothes look on their body by 'trying them on' in a virtual kind of way.
But what about the problem of deciding what to wear? Yes, there's a company out there that's thought about that too. Researchers at a technology consultancy are developing an online wardrobe that suggests which clothes would be appropriate to wear according to the day's weather or your schedule. In a future of smart clothing what else would you expect than a smart wardrobe?
by Simon Jones
Predicting the fickle nature of fashion is difficult and largely based on the whims of couture designers in Paris or influences from films or popular music.
While designs will come and go, the biggest advances are likely to be made in the fabric itself. Dr Marcy Koontz assistant professor at the University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences predicts a future of "clever clothes". "New fabrics will take the lead, and fashion designers will embrace the decorative and functional potential of revolutionary materials. Fashion fabrics with integral anti-perspiring or scent-releasing features will become ordinary." she says.
Clothing designed around functionality has been around for a few years now: crumple free shirts that needs no ironing and teflon coated fabrics that resist greasy stains are a couple.
Scientists, not normally known for their fashion sense could be the leaders in tomorrow's fashion stakes. Right at the forefront of the textile industry intelligent clothing is being developed that revolutionises our perception of clothes.
Smart clothing, or I-Wear may not look radically different but incorporates an array of conducting strands interwoven with textile yarn which enable it to become sensory and provide information that assists the wearer.
The British based switching and sensing company Electrotextiles are behind a range of smart clothing called Elektex™ that includes a soft fabric keyboard sewn into a pair of trousers. If you're wondering what effect a rapid spin cycle would do to its components; the answers nothing - the trousers can be washed and even ironed. They are also planning a necktie that works like a computer mouse.
One of the first applications that uses the advanced Elektex™ fabric is an ergonomic seat developed for the Kion concept car at the Paris Motor Show 2000. The sensitive fabric monitors the movement of the occupants of the vehicle at their backs and legs and communicates with the seat's motors to adjust the seat for optimum comfort.
This technology has the potential to have a big impact on our daily lives from work, leisure and health. In work, phones could be integrated into the lapels of our jackets and the pockets could record meetings. In health and sport clothing could be produced that senses if the wearer becomes too cold and then warms their body with the aid of battery or stored solar power. It could also keep a check on the user's health with the aid of a heart monitor and if problems occur let a hospital know by transmitting information to the nearest hospital.
But these developments could be just a part of the overall scheme of making clothing as efficient and functional as possible.
The mail order business hasn't quite caught on as well as it could have for the simple fact, that unlike retail stores, consumers cannot try clothes on before they buy to see if they fit OK. This could soon all change.
To avoid the danger of buying clothes that are too big or too small a 3D Measuring System is being developed that scans precise measurements of the body and records them onto a disk. Consumers can then view a selection of clothes on the Internet and see how clothes look on their body by 'trying them on' in a virtual kind of way.
But what about the problem of deciding what to wear? Yes, there's a company out there that's thought about that too. Researchers at a technology consultancy are developing an online wardrobe that suggests which clothes would be appropriate to wear according to the day's weather or your schedule. In a future of smart clothing what else would you expect than a smart wardrobe?
by Simon Jones
Will Future clothes be able to wash themselves?
Researchers at Clemson University are developing a highly water-repellant coating made of silver nanoparticles that they say can be used to produce clothing that offer superior resistance to dirt as well as water and require much less cleaning than conventional fabrics.
Phil Brown, Ph.D, a textile chemist with Clemson University in Clemson, said:
The concept is based on the lotus plant, whose leaves are well-known for their ability to ’self-clean’ by repelling water and dirt. Likewise, when water is exposed to the treated fabric, the dirt will be carried away more easily. You will still need some water to rinse away dirt and stains, but cleaning will be quicker and less frequent.
This water-repellant coating is permanently bonded into the clothes and it uses no fluorine-based chemical finishes, reducing potential environmental disadvantages. Moreover, if you want a fresh feel of these clothes all you need to do is simply spray clean or wipe with a damp cloth to remove the dirt.
Source: Stephen
Phil Brown, Ph.D, a textile chemist with Clemson University in Clemson, said:
The concept is based on the lotus plant, whose leaves are well-known for their ability to ’self-clean’ by repelling water and dirt. Likewise, when water is exposed to the treated fabric, the dirt will be carried away more easily. You will still need some water to rinse away dirt and stains, but cleaning will be quicker and less frequent.
This water-repellant coating is permanently bonded into the clothes and it uses no fluorine-based chemical finishes, reducing potential environmental disadvantages. Moreover, if you want a fresh feel of these clothes all you need to do is simply spray clean or wipe with a damp cloth to remove the dirt.
Source: Stephen
Future clothes will make you stronger, power your MP3 BEIJING
Australian scientists are developing clothes of the future that will act as exoskeletons to enhance strength and others that can recharge your MP3 player or mobile phone.
For instance, electronics could get recharged in the future simply by plugging them into your outerwear, because Australian researchers are designing clothing that can harvest energy from a person. The garments would incorporate devices to convert vibration energy from a person's movements into electricity. Advanced conductive fabrics would carry this energy to flexible batteries.
"It will look like an ordinary garment but have extraordinary capabilities," said Adam Best, principal research scientist with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization's energy technology division. "This kind of technology has important applications for soldiers in the field and could mean they no longer need to carry heavy batteries. Essentially, they'd be wearing the battery, not carrying it."
Advanced materials could also help serve as armor. For instance, future yarns made with carbon nanofibers could yield bulletproof uniforms stronger than Kevlar,complex compounds could lead to soft helmets that turn hard in a crash, and robotic exoskeletons could help soldiers shoulder heavy packs and help people walk.
These garments could also have civilian applications, such as powering radios, mobile phones, MP3 players or medical devices such as vital-sign monitoring systems. Solar-powered handbags could accomplish the same thing for women. Not all the potential fabrics of tomorrow are high-tech. For instance, chicken feathers, rice straw and other castoffs of the farming industry could get transformed into fabrics resembling wool, linen or cotton, helping reduce the use of petroleum-based synthetic fabrics such as polyester.
For instance, electronics could get recharged in the future simply by plugging them into your outerwear, because Australian researchers are designing clothing that can harvest energy from a person. The garments would incorporate devices to convert vibration energy from a person's movements into electricity. Advanced conductive fabrics would carry this energy to flexible batteries.
"It will look like an ordinary garment but have extraordinary capabilities," said Adam Best, principal research scientist with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization's energy technology division. "This kind of technology has important applications for soldiers in the field and could mean they no longer need to carry heavy batteries. Essentially, they'd be wearing the battery, not carrying it."
Advanced materials could also help serve as armor. For instance, future yarns made with carbon nanofibers could yield bulletproof uniforms stronger than Kevlar,complex compounds could lead to soft helmets that turn hard in a crash, and robotic exoskeletons could help soldiers shoulder heavy packs and help people walk.
These garments could also have civilian applications, such as powering radios, mobile phones, MP3 players or medical devices such as vital-sign monitoring systems. Solar-powered handbags could accomplish the same thing for women. Not all the potential fabrics of tomorrow are high-tech. For instance, chicken feathers, rice straw and other castoffs of the farming industry could get transformed into fabrics resembling wool, linen or cotton, helping reduce the use of petroleum-based synthetic fabrics such as polyester.
Extra-unique Clothes
The clothes in the future are extra-unique. By using the latest technology that the fourth milennia has produced, scientists have created a fabric that are now the clothes that everyone wants. These clothes can glow in the dark, without any batteries or wires, and will change color in the dark. The clothes are bulletproof, making them ideal for our military forces and police. There is even a special kind made just for the leaders of the country, which has a special alarm built in for emergencies. The clothes are camouflageable, blending in perfectly with the surroundings. No, they are not invisibility cloaks, but they're the next best thing. They are stain proof and waterproof, which means that you could have a lovely time swimming in them. But best of all, there is a special system which involves a collapsible jet pack. All you have to do is program the tiny microchip in the jet pack to respond to your voice.
Clothes Of The Future
Clothes made of feathers and straw
What's the new polyester? Feathers.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska are trying to create fabrics made from chicken feathers and rice straw to replace the petroleum-based artificial fabrics in bike jerseys, jackets, carpets and other garments or items. The chicken feather fabric will feel more like wool, while the straw fabric will resemble cotton, so you won't resemble a scarecrow or a homecoming float mascot.
Success, of course, could turn the fabric industry upside down. The cost of fabrics could decline because the base product would be waste product. Oil exports could drop a bit, and farmers would get another income stream.
Research is still in the experimental stage. The properties of the fiber indicate it could be used to spin fabric. Chicken feathers are mostly composed of keratin, the same type of protein found in wool.
"We hope that the research reported here will stimulate interest in using agricultural byproducts as textile fibers, which would add value to agricultural crops and also make the fiber industry more sustainable," said Yiqi Yang, Ph.D., a University of Nebraska professor of textile science, in a prepared statement. Yang's paper was released at the annual conference of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco this week.
Posted by Michael Kanellos
What's the new polyester? Feathers.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska are trying to create fabrics made from chicken feathers and rice straw to replace the petroleum-based artificial fabrics in bike jerseys, jackets, carpets and other garments or items. The chicken feather fabric will feel more like wool, while the straw fabric will resemble cotton, so you won't resemble a scarecrow or a homecoming float mascot.
Success, of course, could turn the fabric industry upside down. The cost of fabrics could decline because the base product would be waste product. Oil exports could drop a bit, and farmers would get another income stream.
Research is still in the experimental stage. The properties of the fiber indicate it could be used to spin fabric. Chicken feathers are mostly composed of keratin, the same type of protein found in wool.
"We hope that the research reported here will stimulate interest in using agricultural byproducts as textile fibers, which would add value to agricultural crops and also make the fiber industry more sustainable," said Yiqi Yang, Ph.D., a University of Nebraska professor of textile science, in a prepared statement. Yang's paper was released at the annual conference of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco this week.
Posted by Michael Kanellos
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